Payroll Benefits Manager

GNS North America, Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking a Payroll and Benefits Manager to oversee payroll processing and benefits administration across multiple sites. This role requires extensive knowledge of payroll laws and leave management, ensuring compliance with all regulations. Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree and significant payroll experience, along with excellent organizational skills. The position may involve approximately 10% travel and offers a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience, including in-house processing.
• 3+ years of leave management experience with FMLA and Workers Compensation.
• Working knowledge of payroll processing systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversees end-to-end payroll processing for employees.
• Administers employee benefits programs including health and retirement.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local wage laws.

Skills

Payroll processing

Leave management

Wage and hour laws

Organizational skills

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Job description

Unsolicited resumes or outreach from staffing agencies and recruiters will not be accepted.

Who We Are

We deliver advanced metalworking solutions for automotive and industrial clients, specializing in stamping, welding, laser cutting, and assembly. Our in-house tool & die capabilities provide full design, simulation, and build services for complex projects.

Stamping

• Hot and conventional stamping (100–800 tons)
• Multi-location facilities for high-volume production

Laser Cutting

• Multi-axis laser systems for prototyping & production
• Flat and 3D part cutting, trimming, and hole piercing
• Versatile with various metals and thicknesses
• Spot welding for Ultra High Strength Steel & press-hardened parts
• Highly automated robotic cells for precision and efficiency
• Focused on quality, speed, and cost reduction

SUMMARY

Responsible for the overall administration of in-house payroll and benefits management functions for a multi‑site organization. This position will be based out of the corporate office in Grand Rapids, MI. However, the position may also have similar responsibilities for additional GNS North America locations/employees.

This position maintains expert level knowledge of payroll and management processes, methodologies, and best practices. This position will be the primary contact with government agencies related to payroll and benefits management obligations.

Payroll Management

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for hourly, salaried, and union employees.
• Ensure accurate calculation of overtime, double-time, shift differentials, production bonuses, and attendance incentives.
• Ensures accurate and timely processing of payroll updates including new hires, terminations, and changes to pay rates.
• Ensures the integrity and quality of data used in weekly payroll cycles to process payroll with 100% accuracy.
• Completes periodic reports and analysis for various levels of management regarding earnings, taxes, deductions, leave utilization statistics, etc.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage laws, including FLSA requirements.
• Conduct regular payroll audits to ensure accuracy across multiple shifts and departments.
• Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies.
• Implements, maintains, and reviews payroll processing systems and procedures to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
• Coordination with IT, HR, Finance to align workflow for efficient processing of payroll and benefits management.
• Conducts annual merit increases, bonus payouts, 401(k) and payroll audits

Benefits Administration

• Work with executive team and benefit broker for annual benefits open enrollment at the start of the new calendar year before the new benefit year starts on the 1st of May.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for the leave programs in alignment and under the general direction and guidance of Director of HR and external legal counsel.
• Administer employee benefits programs including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, disability, and wellness programs.
• Manage open enrollment processes and employee communications.
• Analyze reported Leave of Absence (LOA) requests (FMLA, PLOA, MLOA, etc) to make eligibility determinations and certifications in compliance with state and federal regulations, as well as company policy and practice.
• Liaise with benefits brokers and vendors to negotiate contracts and resolve issues.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and other relevant regulations.
• Monitor benefits costs and provide reporting and analysis to leadership.
• Oversee leave of absence administration and related benefits impacts.
• Communicates leave and payroll decisions and on‑going expectations with employees.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with labor laws and internal policies.
• Prepare and submit required government filings and audits.
• Maintain accurate payroll and benefits records.
• Develop and implement internal controls and process improvements.
• Ensure on-going claim management is within company standards and industry best practices.
• Establishes claims; tracks and codes documentation in accordance with internal workflow processes.
• Cross-train a designated backup employee to support payroll processing and ensure continuity of operations during PTO, absences, or peak workload periods.
• Develop policies and procedures for payroll and benefits operations.
• Support HR leadership in compensation and benefits strategy.
• Participate in HRIS implementation and system optimization projects.
• Implement excellence in customer service with strong personal interactions and consistent communications with all employees relative to payroll and leave management questions and processes.
• Recommend new approaches, policies and procedures to effect continual improvement of the function and keeping abreast of best practices.
• Liaises with HR Manager, Operations Managers and key stakeholders to improve processes and procedures and optimize financial impacts of leaves
• Ensures efficient support of the operational day-to-day HR transactions related to payroll and leaves of absence company policies and procedures.
• Performs other miscellaneous duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

• 5 years minimum payroll experience including in‑house processing.
• 3 years minimum leave management experience including FMLA, PLOA, MLOA, and Workers Compensation.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of wage and hours laws, in‑house payroll and tax filings, as well as leave management regulations.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree from a four‑year college and five years of progressive and comprehensive payroll experience required, including a minimum of 5+ years of leave of absence administration experience. Must have a working knowledge of and practical experience with payroll processing, leave management, including FMLA, ESTA, FLSA, COBRA, HIPAA, ADA, OWBPA, Workers Compensation, and HR recordkeeping.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fosters Company’s Values throughout the organization by living them daily.
• Acts as a good steward of the Company’s resources and exemplifies the values of the Company.
• Ensures personal and departmental compliance with all Company policies, procedures, values, ethics, and rules (including our Code of Conduct and Anti‑Bribery policies), taking appropriate corrective steps as necessary.
• Maintains and promotes a safe work environment through ownership of Company safety program. This includes following and enforcing all safety rules/regulations and proper operating procedures, as well as the proper use of prescribed safety equipment pertinent to the department.
• Supports and enforces the Company’s equal employment opportunity policy and actions.
• Ensures that personal conduct and work area is free from any form of harassment (sexual, racial, religious, etc.).
• Performs other miscellaneous duties consistent with this position.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills.

TRAVEL

Approximately 10% travel may be required.

GNS North America is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.